title: Immunohistochemical characterization of prototypical endometrial clear cell carcinoma--diagnostic utility of HNF-1β and oestrogen receptor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The great majority of ovarian clear cell carcinomas have a hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 homeobox B (HNF-1β)-positive and oestrogen receptor (ER)-negative immunoprofile. However, the pattern of HNF-1β and ER immunostaining in clear cell carcinomas of the endometrium and the usefulness of this panel in distinguishing clear cell carcinoma from other histological types of endometrial carcinoma have yet to be well defined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We examined the immunostaining patterns of HNF-1β, ER and p53 in 15 morphologically classic pure endometrial clear cell carcinomas, and compared these patterns with 15 endometrioid and 15 serous carcinomas of the endometrium. We observed the presence of diffuse (>70%) moderate to strong nuclear HNF-1β staining and negative ER staining in 14 of 15 clear cell carcinomas, with the remaining case showing both diffuse strong nuclear HNF-1β staining and focal ER staining. In comparison, only one of 15 serous carcinomas and none of 15 endometrioid carcinomas showed a combination of diffuse moderate to strong HNF-1β nuclear staining and negative ER staining. Aberrant p53 immunostaining was observed in five of 15 (33%) clear cell carcinomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, our findings demonstrate that, similarly to the situation for the ovary, a diagnostic panel of HNF-1β and ER may be considered for separating clear cell carcinoma from endometrioid and serous carcinoma of the endometrium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Genetic Pathology Evaluation Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Lien N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: Guangming
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McConechy
authors.forename: Sherman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: C Blake
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Gilks
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Huntsman
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Köbel
authors.forename: Cheng-Han
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D051539:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D051539:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta
keywords: HNF-1β; TP53; clear cell carcinoma; endometrial cancer; endometrioid carcinoma; serous carcinoma